Reactor supports



REACTOR SUPPORTS Fi, :d April 22, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [7/ ll ul w iii-t [8 I7 20 INVENTOR.

DANIEL s. BANKS ATTORNEY July 5, 1955 D. B. BANKS 2,712,426

REACTOR SUPPORTS Filed April 22, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. DANIEL B. BANKS Fig.4 fimi w ATTORNEY United States Patent REACTOR SUPPORTS Daniel B. Banks, Drexel Hill, Pa., assignor to Sun Oil Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of New Jersey Application April 22, 1954, Serial No. 425,014

Claims. (Cl. 248-128) This invention relates to the class of apparatus employed in the chemical and petroleum industries for high temperature operations termed reactors, and more particularly to support means for such devices.

With the introduction of processes requiring high temperatures, the contraction and expansion of the supported apparatus and its connecting piping requires special consideration due to the weight and size of the elements. While known metals are used, making it possible to anticipate the thermal response of the various elements under assumed conditions, actual operation requires a form of construction allowing for all possible variations of natural phenomena without interrupting the process. One solution fixes the large important equipment assemblies and absorbs the movement requirements in the connecting elements, often especially designed. in other instances the connectors remain relatively fixed, while the large assemblies are required to adjust. It is the object of this invention to provide improved construction in the field of movable assemblies and the combination of parts to permit absorption of temperature effects within wide limits.

The improved construction comprises a support on which the reactor assembly rests. Supporting surfaces adapted to reduce the bearing contact to a minimum extend from the assembly body in predetermined directions relative to the fixed connectors. The fixed connectors and the supporting bearings are positioned in substantially the same horizontal plane, thereby eliminating all vertical couples tending to change the axial center or actual plumb position of the reactor during operation. The result of thermal response in the fixed connectors is to move the assembly on the directioned bearing surfaces, easing the stress and insuring the maximum efficiency in working conditions. To insure uninterrupted operation and in addition to the planetary construction noted, the major movement in the selected horizontal plane is directioned by guide elements cooperating with one of the supports, and the tolerances in the guided movement are absorbed by point bearings engaging the bearing surfaces of the remaining supports. This is particularly effective where there are several fixed connectors expanding and contracting under conditions of difierent or unequal stress tending to horizontally move the reactor in several directions simultaneously. 7

These principles of construction and operation are illustrated by a reactor used in petroleum refining as one form of application. For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings and the description which is directed to this particular form of embodiment.

Figure l is an elevational view of the supporting elements.

Figure 2 is a sectional plan view of the construction shown in Figure 1 taken on line 2-2.

taken on line 33 of Figure 4.

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Figure 4 is a sectional elevational view of the element taken on line 44 of Figure 3.

In Figure 1, the upper or suspending portion of a typical reactor 10 is shown engaging the support structure 12. This figure is limited to the pertinent section of the structure and the elements of support necessary to describe the invention. The structure 12 includes an economical arrangement of vertical and horizontal steel members which position the bearing elements in support of the reactor 10.

Bearing means 14, 15 and 16, spaced at the circumferential third points around the reactor 10, are supported by horizontal members 17 fabricated to engage the vertical steel legs 18. A flanged portion 20 of the members 17 presents a level, flat surface on which the bearing means 14 are placed. Outwardly projecting supports 22, 23 and 24 form one means of suspending the reactor 10 in the structure 12 and may be connected to the reactor as by the bands 26 and 27. The supports 22, 23 and 24 are spaced to engage the bearing means 14 at the circumferential' third points and are positioned relative to the effective forces acting on the reactor. Guides 28 and 29 are fastened to the flange surface 2t) to limit the movement of support 22 in a predetermined direction selected to minimize operating stresses on the equipment as a whole.

To complete the general description of the assembly selected to demonstrate the construction under discussion, the structure 12 is shown extending above the reactor 10 to support the member 30. This forms an operating surface for specific purposes not connected with the supporting details previously disclosed and as it forms no part of the present invention will not be further discussed. A manhead or service opening 32 is shown on the top of the reactor enclosed by a cover 34. Such a covered opening may be used as a means for placing reacting materials inside the reactor 16 or for an inspection opening, or both. In addition, two pipe openings 48 and 42 are shown connecting the reactor 10 to the inlet and outlet lines 44 and 46 respectively. These pipe openings, limited to two for the purposes of this specification, illustrate an effective use of the bearing structure and will be thus described later when disclosing the operating characteristics of the combination. The elevation of these openings and their cooperating inlet and outlet lines 44 and are positioned to determine the effective horizontal plane of operation relative to the bearings 14, 15 and 16. The center lines of these pipes and connections are substantially coincident with the bearing surfaces. It will be evident, however, that the disclosed principles, with slight modification of the structural details, are applicable to a Wide range of similar devices.

Returning to the reactor 1i), reference to Figures 1 and 2 shows three openings in the vessel. It is indicated above that any tendency of the reactor 10 to twist about the vertical axis in the support 12 is substantially overcome by the use of guides 28 and 29 positioned on each side of bearing 14, thus selecting a primary direction of movement relative to the effective forces. The bearing means 14, 15 and 16 with cooperating supports are positioned, further, to take advantage of this preselected direction of movement both horizontally and vertically. Additionally, guides 41 and 43 are placed to further directionally govern the movement received 1 from the expansion and contraction of pipe 44 and is aligned by the abutting fins 45 and 47 attached to the connection 40.

As disclosed above, the reactor 10 is supported in a tower-like structure 12 on the supports 22, 23 and 24, which form a part of the bearing means generally indicated by the numbers 14, 15 and 16. Located as shown on Figures :1 and 2, described above, further details of these tbearinglmeansere shown .in Figures .3 .and 4. The three points of suspension designated as bearing means 14, 1S and 16 are structurally identical in this circumstance. Consequently one bearing means only vvill be described as indicative of this uniform structure.

Beginning with the horizontal member 20 on which the :bearing .means :14 is ,rnountedas the-selected means to the described, 'a .typicalstnuctnre is shown in elevation inJFigUre 4. A lower alignment plate I50 rests on ihe upper surface of :fianged portion :ze of :member 17. The housing :base :52 -is vertically spaced from :lower plate 50 by the spacer "E t-inserted .for construction .and maintenance purposes together permitting necessary vertical ad ustment. This assembly :of the three .elements 50, 52 and 154 is held :in operating engagement by fastener elements such as the bolts 5.6 and 15.8 which pass through the Jflange Opening .62 is let .into .the body 6410f the.housing as through the base .52 .as shown for the admission and :removal of protective :-materials and is stoppered by a valved conduit assembly .70 :fitted "into opening 152.

-As shown in the several figures of the drawing, the valved conduit assembly 79 is positioned to ;receive ;a protective material such as polysiloxanes, better .known in the trade as silicones. Normally a cap 72,1elevationally positioned to determine the protective material level, .covers the vertical conduit 74 .to prevent the -entrance .of the natural elements and a stop cock 76 retains or drains the viscous liquid. A T fitting 78 directs the silicones through the transverse connector 80 into and .from the body 64-of the housing 66.

Within the housing 66, the lower bearing plate 68 is held in fixed position on the housing base 52 vby the bolts .82 and 84 (Figures 3 and 4) and supports the bearing ball 86 and the retaining ring .88 in operating position. The upper bearing plate 90, held in position by holtssuch as 92 passing through to engagetherupper alignment plate 94, projects downwardly'into operating engagement with the bearing ball86. The .contact ourface lbetween bearing plate 90 and bearing ball 86 is substantially at an elevation equal to the center of the bearing ball 86 to the necessary extreme positions. The

supply of protective coating material ,noted above as a silicone is indicated by the numeral 98 and covers the bearing ball '86 and the retaining ring'BS .up to and including the lower portion of the downwardly projectirrg upper bearing plate 90. The rain hood 96 'keeps rain and snow out, preventing obstruction 'by freezing, and bars easy entrance ofinsects and small animals and birds as well. An inspection door 104) islet into one side ;of the housing 66,as indicated on Figure 3, which acts as "a retainer for the protecting silicones, and also facilitates inspectionof the housing 64 and bearing'ball 86 as required, from time to time.

The "inlet and outlet lines 44 and 46 respectively, shown in Figures 1 and 2, indicate the means for "transferr'ing-fluids to 'and'frorn thevessel 10, here illustrated as a reactor. As noted above they connect with-the reactor in the horizontal plate of the bearing means. The considered processes of chemical and petroleum manufacture require these lines to simultaneously carry fluids at :difierent temperatures. Under these conditions,

'stress differences exist in these'lines exerting varying forces due to changes in the efiective temperatures and the resultant expansion and contraction. These varying iorccsin .the .feed and outletlines exert-an uneven stress in the reactor .10 causing it to move on the supporting or t structure. It will be evidentthat to maintain the reactor 10in .a fixed position would .cause .the fixed iced high pressure which normally accompanies such high temperature effects.

In the illustrated example, iheispaced supports, placed in cooperating horizontal relation with the feed and outlet Sline connections and 42, maintain the reactor 10 in operating position. As will be evident tothose versed in the art, operating position here rneans'that the vessellO remains in=the vertical orinitialoperatin'g position, and, under :the definition .of this-specification, is horizontally moved by thermal forces to prevent connected pipe line rupture. The guides 28 and 29 directing bearing means 14, assisted by guides 41 and 43 controlling the direction ofmovement of connection 40, cause the primary movement :on the hearings to be direct response to the -:greater;force transmitted by pipe 44. Pipe 46, however, "also exerts alforce dependingon the temperature zetfect and :design of the outlet line which is-offset lOfSOiHe .dc'grce by the above mentioned guides. But Within ;the limits of thevconstruction tolerances the sole movement of the :reactor will not boas directed but tend to rotate slightly :about .its longitudinal axis. Ibis movement is permitted, without .binding, lbyzthe additional this structurein Which-all.bearingsare point SUPPOItSBJld support. Thus the objects iofrthemiechanismiare attained through improved construction 11f :the :supp ortingelements andthepositioning of .the parts :as "an improved operating combination.

it "-will ;.be understood :that :the :inventor contemplates changes such as modification in the number :and position of :the force sources as :well :as :in the-position of :the bearlug-supportsrelativerthereto, and believessuchto be within the spirit of this invention, as :well as the :substitutionof the responsive, vessel for one other than :the reactor of the ;.cxample. The spirit of the-inventionzis believed itO restrthe 'vesselsuspension as supported by;a plurality ofzsingle :balled bearings of especialconstruction idiSPQSfid and guided as discussed and :should be limited only :by the :claims incorporated herein.

. Mmtisclaimcdjs:

..1. In combination with a rreaction vessel vertically positioned in a rigid supporting structure and connected with .fiuid conductors entering the vessel at ninety :degreestoeach-otherandaxially on the "same vertical plane,- flexible .support means comprising .a ifirst hearingv member extending .from .the vessel to engage bearing means on the supporting structure diametrically opposite and .in the vertical plane of the axis of .ajirst fluid conductor ;sub jected ;to the greatest fiuctuationxin thermally created-displacement, guides :attached to the rigid structure omeach side of 'thegtirst fluid-conductor land the opposing bearing in that :each of the bearing meansvsttpporting the vessel attached bearing members include a housing mounted on the irigid support structure at (the selected elevation and adapted to contain a protective coating material, a single ball bearing in .said housing submerged .in said coating material, retaining meansin said housing holding the ball bearing in operating position to receive the hearing member, and a cover for the housing attached to the bearing member andjextending over the housing sufficiently to cover the same for all operating positions.

3. Means for supporting a vessel subjected to movement resulting from thermal effect on operating connections which comprises, in combination with a fixed supporting frame, a vessel, supporting connectors secured to and equidistant from the vertical axis of the vessel, a plurality of separate ball bearings spaced to cooperate with the supporting connectors, separate housings mounted on the supporting frame at the same vertical height and enclosing each of said ball bearings in spaced relation, means supporting said connectors and afiording bearing surfaces to contact-said ball bearings in sliding engagement, and means secured to the frame for admission to the housings enclosing each ball bearing of a protective liquid in which the ball is immersed.

4. The construction defined in claim 3 including a cover over each of the housings enclosing the separate bearing balls, said cover being in fixed position relative to the corresponding vessel-supporting connector.

5. Means for supporting a vessel subjected to movement resulting from thermal effect on operating connections which comprises, in combination with a fixed su porting frame, a vessel; a first pipe connection secured to the vessel for flow of fluid therebetween; supporting connectors secured to and equidistant from the vertical axis of the vessel; bearings carried by the frame, located in substantially the same horizontal plane as the pipe connection, circumferentially spaced to cooperate with the supporting connectors, said supporting connectors and bearings being positioned to locate one of said bearings diametrically opposite said first pipe connection; and a second pipe connection secured to the vessel located be tween the first pipe connection and the bearing located substantially opposite thereto; the other bearings, two in number, located, circumferentially, on opposite sides of the first named pipe connection, one of said two bearings being located, circumferentially, between the two pipe connections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 392,105 Chapman Oct. 30, 1888 1,192,373 Bennett July 25, 1916 1,634,084 Ruths June 28, 1927 2,126,325 Hawke Aug. 9, 1938 2,475,109 Pendleton July 5, 1949 

